Not many players flattened the future Hall-of-Fame linebacker during his 17-year career, but Ogbonnaya was among them on a blitz pickup a season ago in Baltimore.

“I just remember it was a zero blitz, an all-out pressure,” Ogbonnoya said. “I tried to meet him at a point where he wouldn’t hit Brandon (Weeden) and save a play . . . There were some calls and texts. I’ve always taken pride in my ability to block and it’s something I need to continue to work on.”

The Browns are giving the 27-year-old that opportunity. The converted halfback has received the most reps as Trent Richardson’s lead blocker, and he’s listed as first-team fullback for Thursday’s preseason opener against the St. Louis Rams.

In an era of spread offenses, few football positions are as devalued or unconventional. Ogbonnaya, however, is grateful for the audition and appears poised to wrest the fullback role from incumbent Owen Marecic. He was used as the undersized lead blocker in goal-line drills Monday.

“Everything takes effort (at) any position on this field – there’s a lot of talented players – but I think it’s fun,” Ogbonnaya said. “I’m having a lot of fun doing it. It’s a great challenge and I’m trying to accept it.”

Fullbacks receive fewer snaps in today’s NFL and the job description calls for as much versatility as muscularity.

Ogbonnaya has proven a capable pass catcher out of the backfield, collecting 47 receptions the last two seasons for 352 yards. He has just three drops on 58 targets with the Browns.

The running back also has rushed for 420 yards on 95 carries in a four-year career that includes stops in St. Louis and Houston. Beyond his fullback duties, he's also in a crowded field of reserve halfbacks with Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis and Brandon Jackson.

“He’s a guy that can play multiple positions,” said Browns coach Rob Chudzinski, who told Ogbonnaya in the spring he might see time at fullback. “Sometimes it’s hard to put those guys in two different spots . . . The thing about depth charts, they don’t always tell the story of roles . . . A guy that appears sometimes as a third teamer on a depth chart is the first teamer in some sort of role in some situation for a game. Certainly, Oby is a very valuable part of what we’re doing.”

Ogbonnaya is among the benefactors of the offseason coaching change. He fell out of favor with Pat Shurmur last season after lining up incorrectly on a crucial fourth-quarter play in a 25-15 loss to the Ravens on Nov. 4. Weeden hit receiver Josh Gordon for a go-ahead touchdown that was nullified on an illegal-formation call.

The halfback participated in just 29 offensive snaps the rest of the season, touching the ball seven times.

“It’s always been important for me to be on the roster,” Ogbonnaya said. “It didn’t matter if I was on special teams. I just wanted to play and represent my family. If fullback provides me with that opportunity I will give it my best.

“What I’ve learned about this game is what you put in is what you get out. It’s a privilege to play, not a right.”

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